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Active learning is a pedagogy that focuses on students sharing responsibility for their learning. It is not intended to replace traditional lectures, but rather to enhance student understanding of the content by experiencing it through multiple points. Students are expected to engage in activities that aid them in analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating course content. Cooperative exercises, problem-based learning, and utilizing case methods are a few approaches to promote active learning. Often times the result is students reach a deeper understanding of the course content and also feel like active participants in a course.
Perceived Benefits & Pitfalls of Incorporating Active Learning
| Benefits | Pitfalls |
|---|---|
| Promotes higher order thinking | Students may develop misconceptions |
| Increases student engagement | Takes more time to implement |
| Increases student motivation and performance | May change the pace of exposure to content |
| Encourages long-term content retention | Risky, not all outcomes are predictable |
Video Perspectives on Active Learning
McGill University Everyone is engaged!
Lists of Example Activities
Active learning at the University of Michigan
Active learning at Cal State LA
What’s Happening @ Spelman College
Spring Semester 2016, the Teaching Research & Resources Center (TRRC), Educational Technology Committee (ETC), and Instructional Technology and Design Services (ITDS) partnered to sponsor 3rd Thursdays‘ with this semester’s theme, “Exploring Active Learning Spaces” focusing on showcasing changes that have been made to traditional learning spaces to transform them in to active learning spaces. Faculty presenters featured each month shared their vision for the active learning classrooms in which they teach. Some newly renovated active learning spaces to explore include TRRC (Giles G16), Innovation Lab (Fine Arts 139), and Interdisciplinary Classroom (Science Center 238). Join us 3rd Thursday, April 21 featuring an Open House for the new Faculty Technology Sandbox (Cosby LL8). Explore new educational technologies on campus, test emerging technologies and provide your input. Lunch will be provided.